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You might want to be able to use the project after spending all that time on it.

I've always wanted to build an electric-assist recumbant 3-wheel bicycle with leaning front wheels which folds up.
Something like that. I don't know. Mabye a car seat which rotates and extends out the door for easy egress.
Something practical. Aurel mentioned way back replacing a starter motor with a generator/electric assist but I remember seeing something like that on the market. Mabye a dual-output motor for the rear wheels(4whl dr on WOT).
If you're near water, mabye mod out a canoe with sails motor and hydrofoil.

Here is what I came up with:

A retrofit device to monitor realtime fuel mileage as well as give service reminders on mileage / time as needed. Service minders would be items such as replace air filter, change oil, etc.

This would facilitate maximum operational efficiency of older autos that do not have the realtime fuel mileage readouts.

Yes, I too will take a royalty. A simple product that may have market acceptance.

Larry

If you think it's a viable product with real market potential and very unique, you can file a provisional patent(1 year) which is just a register of the idea in simple format.

I don't really care. Truth is, I have lots of killer ideas. My experience is that execution is worth 20x of an idea. I have no interest in working on a gizmo for cars. Other gizmos maybe. Not that one.

Larry

Make it something that applies to everyday life. IE...
A device that senses if the toilet is running and stops it.
A device that helps the aging raise and lower heavy objects.
A device that makes it easier to shovel snow.
Sometimes the simplest problems are the hardest to solve.

One of my favorite sites. This young man combined A+B in a slightly different way, and may have hit on something good. Make waves with the Kymera jet-powered body board

Quote:

Originally Posted by island911 (Post 5790726)

Okay then... How about vortex generators for the body of an 83 911SC? You could try different placements, and make a bunch of roll-down tests to calc the drag deltas. ...a few sensors to measure pressure gradients.. . .

btw...
d'oh, I was just going to say "Hovercraft" :D

Seriously tho' there is a saying; Engineers make happen for a dollar what any Joe Schmoe can make happen for two.

In other words, don't be dis'n too hard on the Joe Schmoes.

fluid dynamic projects would be very useful! I wouldn't mind something along those lines...
Oh and I'm not too hard on joe schmoes. I have been joe schmoe for a long time now, and am graduating to joe engineer haha.

Quote:

Originally Posted by john70t (Post 5790790)

I've thought about something like that. I thought about doing some sort of CVT for a bike as well. The biggest reason I doubt those will happen is just because my group doesn't share my bike interests. (I've been riding with my university's team for a year now)

A KERS like system is a very interesting idea as well. It might be a bit out of our abilities/budget, but I will bring it up.

Thanks for your ideas!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWJ (Post 5790808)

Unfortunately almost all cars come with a table that lists regular maintenance items at every 5k miles. It might be a useful idea, but it's too easy to get OK'd by my professors. It's pretty simple programming, and a simple odometer, and some basic installation. There's no serious engineering there. Now if it was a diagnostic system that alerted what maintenance was needed, that would work, but would probably be too expensive to prototype.

Quote:

Originally Posted by john70t (Post 5791077)

One of my favorite sites. This young man combined A+B in a slightly different way, and may have hit on something good. Make waves with the Kymera jet-powered body board

That's VERY cool! And exactly the type of project we're looking for. I am going to look around that sight a bit more. Thank you for the link.

Thread from the dead! I meant to post here when I finished this project nearly a year ago. I thought you would all appreciate it.

We decided on building a Continuously Variable Intake Manifold. The idea was to use the principle of Helmholtz resonance used in most cars for one engine speed, but extend the runners in a telescopic fashion to capture that resonance across the vast majority of the operating range of the engine.

The project was a success! Thanks for all the ideas, everyone. I have a ~60 page write up with ALL of the science,mathematics, and principles on how it works. It also includes build details, materials, analysis, flow specifics, and seemingly endless details. If you are really curious, I can send it to those interested. I'd rather not have it on a public forum, though.

Our greatest challenge was producing 4 continuously telescoping cylinders that would seal up to 5psi gauge (due to natural supercharging effect). We did this with hand machined parts at ridiculous tolerances, and a oil-filled-nylon on aluminum seal. Oil filled nylon has some great properties to naturally lubricate itself while holding a seal. The lead screw assembly was also tricky since the device would have to move so fast on a car.

I'll include some pictures and a video below:

DESIGN AND MODELING

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...8911017_n.jpeg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...4001091_n.jpeg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...2113344_n.jpeg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...5688416_n.jpeg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...1890865_n.jpeg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...6345498_n.jpeg

BUILD

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...n/IMG_2518.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...8196909_n.jpeg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...8881112_n.jpeg

Pretty cool.
For post grad work are you going to apply it to an SAE racecar?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas (Post 7401277)

Pretty cool.
For post grad work are you going to apply it to an SAE racecar?

Thanks!

I am actually in graduate school now in California, and the project is left annexed in Utah for now (still under my ownership, though).

It was originally spec'd to work with an '08 Yamaha R6 engine under SAE rules. Unfortunately, the SAE team made a rather large change to their fuel delivery system at the last moment, and we were unable to test our results on the track. If we had some extra money and a couple weeks, it could be refinished to fit on that car, but both time and money had expired on our pretty-much finalized product at that point.

adapt it for our cars; also add:

light weight engine carrier for the Porsche 911

electronically activated exhaust cutouts for the Monty muffler

That's pretty elegant. I would think that could be readily incorporated onto Porsche engines...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flieger (Post 7401627)

Cool stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWebb (Post 7401312)

adapt it for our cars; also add:

light weight engine carrier for the Porsche 911

electronically activated exhaust cutouts for the Monty muffler

Quote:

Originally Posted by fanaudical (Post 7401913)

That's pretty elegant. I would think that could be readily incorporated onto Porsche engines...

Thanks, everyone!

I would love to adapt it for the 911. I'l just need a few coins for R&D/prototyping/manufacturing costs. ;)

In all honesty, a system like this is VERY difficult to design, and would likely cost a fortune to produce.
I think a dual runner with diverter valve approach is a better one (this is seen in some modern road cars). Regardless, I would be happy to design that for you all, too! ;)

What about an Electric Car build, look on my website, also this part could be added to the gas car:

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/15347714" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

Bill Lear went the grave saying the Steam engine will work again...Might be something there

There may be something to that steam engine: The Six-Stroke Engine • Damn Interesting
It's a normal 4-stroke cycle...plus an extra diesel-ish/water injection which produces power, cleans, and reduces heat.

Many companies are going zero waste to landfill, however some materials, food waste, rubber are difficult to dispose. Most of this type of waste is burned for energy and it's expensive.

Finding alternative uses - for difficult waste - FWIW.

Iffn ya put enuff positive pressure in an intake manifold, the runner length doan make as much difference. .......................................... Just sayin ... ;)